Social Work Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
There are 11,332+ social work positions currently offering visa sponsorship in the United States. The most common visa types for these roles include F-1 OPT, H-1B, TN. Top hiring companies include LifeStance Health, RHA Health Services, LLC, & Advocates, among others. Salaries for sponsored positions range from $31K – $38K.
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Continuous Exam # 24/60B01/09MJ
Summary Of Position
The Monterey County Health Department, Behavioral Health Bureau is seeking enthusiastic Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) candidates to work as part of a multidisciplinary care team serving children, youth, adults, and older adults as a Psychiatric Social Worker I. As a member of a Behavioral Health care team, this position will assist and participate in interviewing clients and families, compile social case histories, participate in diagnostic and evaluative staff conferences, prepare reports, interpret and explain factors pertaining to mental illness, provide individual, group and case management services, and work collaboratively with a variety of community and county partners.
The Behavioral Health Bureau is a progressive agency that serves children, youth, adults, older adults and their families with System of Care values of being community based, culturally relevant, client and family centered, using evidence-based practices to support clients in their wellness and recovery journey for mental illness and substance use disorder conditions.
Children's System of Care provides an array of clinical services from of birth to 25 years of age and their families. Clinical teams include Early Childhood Services, Transition Age Youth, Post Hospitalization Support, as well clinical teams that partner with Child Welfare, Education and Juvenile Probation.
Adult System of Care provides a wide range of comprehensive integrated care to adults/older adults (18+ years of age) with serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use, and other complex issues. The multidisciplinary teams work together to provide an array of services including but not limited to psychosocial rehabilitation, individual and group therapy, strength-based case management, crisis intervention, family support and community integration. Clinical teams are based out of the outpatient regional clinics in Marina, Salinas, Soledad, and King City.
Access to Treatment clinics are entry points into services and provide an array of clinical services for individuals of all ages who are seeking to get connected to services for mental health and substance use issues that are impacting their ability to function in work, home, school, social and community settings. Services include screening, assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, linkage and referral to community resources as well as the Children and Adult Systems of Care.
Community Crisis Services (Mobile Crisis) Team responds to calls for crisis support and provides brief crisis intervention, de-escalation, triage, risk / safety assessment, safety planning, referral and linkage to individuals and families experiencing behavioral health crisis in the community. This team seeks to provide support to stabilize the situation in the community to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and divert from emergency resources (hospital/jail) when appropriate while providing linkage to ongoing care as needed.
Adult Justice Involved Services Team works with current and former justice involved adults (18+ years of age) some of whom are reentering society after a period of incarceration (jail/prison) and transitioning to community-based services to meet their mental health and substance use disorder treatment needs. Clients may be participating in one of the Collaborative Court or Diversion programs, CARE Act (Care Court) or referred to services through Post Release Community Supervision or the Cal AIM Justice Involved Behavioral Health Linkages Initiative.
The Health Department offers up to a $10,000 signing bonus to candidates hired into regular positions for this classification from this recruitment (24/60B01/09MJ). For more information regarding the Signing Bonus, please refer to Admin Procedures A.49.1 Employment Bonus.
The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.
Responsibilities:
Conducts psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions.
Performs initial diagnostic evaluations noting behavioral symptoms, which may indicate organic and/or mental disorders in children and in interpersonal/family dysfunctions related to child and adult consumers.
Determines and develops appropriate annual treatment plans for all consumers in the caseload.
Conducts individual, group and family counseling/therapy sessions for consumers toward the goal of achieving more adequate, satisfying and productive life adjustments in the community and provides case management services as appropriate.
Participates in developing individual and group treatment plans utilizing a variety of psychotherapeutic, psychosocial and psycho educational modalities that meet the standards set by the Behavioral Health/State Quality Assurance Standard.
Assesses progress of consumers on a selected basis and proposes modifications to rehabilitation plans in order to meet goals agreed upon by the consumers, youth or family.
Prepares and maintains psychosocial assessments for use in diagnostic evaluations and consumer progress and desired outcomes.
Provides community services to consumers who have underserved or unmet behavioral health needs.
Collects, coordinates and evaluates additional medical and psychosocial data such as annual treatment plans and collateral information for the purpose of providing clinical interventions.
Analyzes factors which exert an adverse effect upon health problems, treatment, or recovery, or which may contribute to or are responsible for mental illness or affect the potential for rehabilitation.
Conducts treatment groups in schools and other community settings with emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children toward the goal of achieving higher functioning in interpersonal relationships and learning.
Work as a psychiatric team member with other treatment disciplines.
Provides consultation and psychoeducation services.
Maintains clinical documentation to standard of care and in keeping with agency documentation standards.
To view the complete job description, please visit the Monterey County website: Psychiatric Social Worker I.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
Working Knowledge Of
Current philosophy, principles, and evidence-based practices for services to consumers with serious mental or emotional disturbance.
Individual, group and family psychodynamics as they relate to adults or children.
Psychiatric diagnostic methods and terminology.
Personality and human development from infancy through adulthood.
Skill And Ability To
Provide treatment to adults, children or adolescents with various mental disabilities ranging from serious mental illness to dysfunctional behavior patterns including victims of sexual and physical abuse.
In conjunction with the consumer, develop realistic, attainable and measurable service plans and facilitate their attainment.
Evaluate the degree of community functioning or emotional distress of consumers.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing and able to complete work using electronic format.
Ensure time sensitive documentation submitted within established guidelines.
Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable Qualifications
* Ability to speak, read and write in English and Spanish
The skills necessary may be acquired through various types of education, training, and/or experience, typically:
Education
Possession of a Master’s Degree from an accredited school of social work and registration with the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners as an Associate Clinical Social Worker.
Required Conditions Of Employment
Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency, travel out of County to attend meetings.
Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
Pursuant to the California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5751.2 (a) provide proof of Registration with the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners (BBSE) as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) or Intern – Marriage and Family Therapist.
In accordance with HIPAA, incumbent must have applied for or have a National Provider Identifier (NPI).
Comply with California licensure requirements as outlined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Benefits
The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit K Benefits Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.
Notes
As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9. If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURES
Apply on-line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty or Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:
Monterey County Health Department
Attn: Human Resources Division
1270 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906.
Phone: (831) 755 – 4519
Fax: (831) 775 – 8133
Qualifications
The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:
A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
Responses to the Supplemental Questions
Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
Equal Opportunity And Reasonable Accommodation
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Maira Jimenez, Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 755 – 4541 or JimenezM6@countyofmonterey.gov.

How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Social Work
Pursue licensure as early as possible to maximize your competitiveness
Obtaining your Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential demonstrates that you meet U.S. professional standards and significantly strengthens your H-1B petition. Begin the ASWB examination process and state licensing application during your MSW program or OPT period so you are fully credentialed when seeking sponsorship.
Target healthcare systems and hospitals with social work departments
Large hospital systems like Kaiser Permanente, HCA Healthcare, and academic medical centers employ clinical social workers for discharge planning, behavioral health, and patient advocacy. Healthcare employers frequently sponsor because clinical social work requires an MSW and licensure, making the specialty occupation argument straightforward.
Consider school social work positions in underserved districts
School districts facing social worker shortages, particularly in rural and low-income areas, may sponsor H-1B visas and some qualify for cap exemptions if affiliated with nonprofit educational institutions. School social work typically requires state-specific school social work certification in addition to your LMSW or LCSW.
Look into community mental health centers in shortage areas
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community mental health centers in Health Professional Shortage Areas actively recruit social workers and often have experience with visa sponsorship. These nonprofit organizations may also be H-1B cap-exempt, allowing filing at any time without lottery constraints.
Specialize in a high-demand clinical area
Substance abuse treatment, trauma-informed care, geriatric social work, and child welfare are areas with persistent workforce shortages. Specializing in one of these fields during your MSW and clinical hours makes you harder to replace and gives employers a stronger justification for sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do employers sponsor visas for social workers in the U.S.?
Yes, social work is a strong candidate for H-1B sponsorship because it is a licensed profession that requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) and often a master's degree (MSW) for clinical roles. Hospitals, community mental health centers, school districts, and government agencies all sponsor social workers, particularly in areas facing workforce shortages. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) are especially in demand.
What licenses do international social workers need to practice in the U.S.?
Licensing requirements vary by state, but most states require at least a master's degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program for clinical practice. You will typically need to pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination at the appropriate level - bachelor's, master's, or clinical. Some states accept international social work degrees if they are evaluated as equivalent by a credential evaluation agency like WES or ECE.
Are social work roles in shortage areas easier to sponsor?
Yes, many rural areas and underserved communities across the U.S. face significant social worker shortages, which can make employers in these regions more willing to sponsor and more successful in their petitions. Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) designated by HRSA often have employers actively recruiting internationally. Working in a shortage area may also provide advantages for certain green card pathways.
Can I use OPT to work as a social worker after graduating from a U.S. MSW program?
Yes, MSW graduates can use 12 months of post-completion OPT to work in social work roles while pursuing licensure and building experience. Social work is not a STEM-designated field, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available. This makes it critical to identify employers willing to sponsor an H-1B petition early in your OPT period.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Social Work jobs?
When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a social work in New York will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.
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